ByNick Jones

How the Abuse of Prescription Pain Medications Can Lead To Heroin Use [Infographic]

Prescription Pain Medications

Many individuals who struggle with an addiction to heroin originally began by abusing prescription pain medications. All too often, people mistakenly believe that prescription painkillers are less addictive, dangerous or problematic than drugs like heroin, but the two are inextricably linked. The use of prescription pain medications can and often does lead to heroin use and addiction.

Prescription Pain Medications and Heroin Can Have a Lot in Common

Many prescription pain medications are opiates, which means that they reduce pain by attaching themselves to specific molecules called opioid receptors. Heroin is also an opiate, and it works in virtually the same way. Opiate addiction, whether a result of prescription pain medicine or heroin, is responsible for more than 29,000 overdose deaths every year.

Heroin is Cheaper than Prescription Opiates

Without insurance, or on the black market, prescription pain medications can be incredibly expensive. Patients who originally legitimately needed the medication, but are now addicted, can expect to pay around $60 for a single 60-milligram pill of an opiate painkiller. The equivalent amount of heroin, however, may be as little as one-tenth of the price. This significant price difference between the two substances means that financially-strapped individuals dealing with an addiction may be forced to purchase heroin in order to afford their next dose.

Prescription Drug Crackdowns Can Lead to Heroin Use Instead

According to the Center for Disease Control, a staggering 12 million Americans use prescription pain medications non-medically. This essentially means that they’re abusing the medication and may have an addiction. Sometimes, medical groups or cities will crack down on illegal prescriptions or sales of prescription painkillers. While this has positive intentions, unavailability of prescription opiates may cause some individuals to turn to heroin instead.

America Has a Serious Prescription Pain Medication Epidemic

The United States is home to roughly 5% of the world’s population. However, the nation is responsible for consuming more than 80% of the world’s supply of prescription painkillers. This is indicative of a serious addiction and opiate abuse problem in the United States, and it shows the scale of people who develop opiate addictions that can sometimes only be sated through heroin consumption.

Many People Who Use Prescription Painkillers Go on to Use Heroin

The transition from prescription pain medications to heroin isn’t rare or statistically insignificant. In fact, 1 in 15 people who take non-medical prescription pain medication will go on to try heroin within the next decade. With more than 12 million people taking prescription pain medications non-medically, this is a major issue that needs to be addressed.

Just because prescription pain medications can have a legitimate purpose, it doesn’t make them any less addictive or dangerous. Whether you’re struggling with an addiction to prescription medications or heroin, Recovery in Motion can help. Call (866) 418-1070 today to get the support and resources necessary to take back control over your life.

ByNick Jones

Do Detox Treatment Centers Also Have Long-Term Treatment Options?

Addiction is a disorder that needs adequate care and efficient therapy to tackle it. Statistically, when getting help in a long-term rehabilitation program at detox treatment facilities, patients are more inclined to recover successfully. Several of these programs start with an initial period of detox in order to remove the drug’s impact on a persons’ physical dependence. Afterward, treatment helps individuals to learn about their addiction and constructive ways to control it.

Long-Term Care at Detox Treatment Centers

An estimated 23.2 million Americans required some type of addiction treatment in 2007. Out of those people, only 10.4% actually received the treatment that they needed. This complex disease requires in-depth treatment because it affects all aspects of the individual’s physical, mental and emotional health.

Detox treatment centers generally offer a range of treatment options. For addicted individuals with an intense, long-term addiction treatment options are often the best choice. At a residential treatment center, patients are constantly supervised so that it’s virtually impossible to relapse. They receive intense, focused care so that they know how to recognize triggers and manage cravings.

Detox Treatment Centers and the Detox Process

The first step at most treatment centers is detox. During this time, addicted individuals are continuously supervised by medical professionals. If withdrawal symptoms are severe, staff members are on hand to help reduce the severity of the symptoms. More importantly, medically supervised detox prevents addicted individuals from relapsing while they are at their weakest state. Instead of reaching out to drugs or alcohol, an individual’s chemical dependency is completely removed. Once this is done, he or she can effectively start the rehabilitation process.

Treatment Options Available

Depending on the patient, different treatment centers and treatment options may be needed. As a rule, longer treatment programs are more successful than shorter programs.

During the program, the individual gets help through cognitive behavioral therapy and dual diagnosis treatment. The evidence-based program offers art, music and yoga therapy to help patients recover.

Evidence-based treatment options are ideal for addicted individuals who begin recovery. At programs like the one you’ll find at Recovery in Motion, patients live, cook and clean in an apartment with two other patients. They relearn life skills that help with recovery. Meanwhile, family and cognitive behavioral therapy help patients rebuild their lives and uncover the root of their addiction.

An addiction may be a disease, but it’s a disease that can be treated. At cost-effective rehab programs, patients can get the long-term treatment and therapy that they need to recover. To get help now with an addiction, call Recovery in Motion at (866) 418-1070.

ByNick Jones

Overcoming Heroin Addiction with the Help of a Chemical Dependency Center

Treating a heroin addiction at a chemical dependency center is the first step toward long-term sobriety. At a reputable treatment center, patients can get help with withdrawal symptoms and remove the psychological grip of heroin. Many treatment centers offer therapy options to help address the underlying behaviors that contribute to the addiction.

Detoxing at a Chemical Dependency Center

Once patients arrive at the treatment center, they will complete the intake process and begin detox. Withdrawal symptoms from heroin addiction can be intense, so it’s important to detox with the help of experienced medical professionals. While at the center, patients are continuously supervised so that detox is as comfortable as possible.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

For long-term, severe addictions, inpatient heroin addiction rehabilitation is the best option. Studies show that inpatient rehabilitation has higher success rates than outpatient treatment programs. This is due to the intensity of the treatment program and the fact that addicted individuals can’t access drugs while they’re at the center.

Depending on each individual’s unique circumstances, patients may want to sign up for addiction treatment treatment. Once rehab starts, patients will receive daily therapy sessions, as well as education about their addiction. Some treatment centers also offer options like art, music or yoga therapy to help with recovery.

Preventing Relapse Through a Chemical Dependency Center

Once treatment is complete, there are support groups available to prevent a relapse. Sometimes, patients choose to use outpatient treatment programs after they finish inpatient treatment to further encourage their recovery. Relapses can and do happen, however, so it’s important to create a relapse prevention plan in advance.

Counseling and therapy can help prevent a potential heroin addiction relapse. Patients should avoid hanging out with friends who use drugs. Likewise, place that are prone to drug use like bars or clubs should be avoided. At a chemical dependency center like Recovery in Motion, patients get extra help at preventing a relapse.

Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders

Many people who have a heroin addiction and dependency also have a co-occurring disorder. Pain from a chronic medical condition or a mental disorder can fuel the addiction. To maintain sobriety, patients must receive help with the traumatic experiences, medical conditions and psychiatric problems that enable the addiction. At the chemical dependency center, patients can receive therapy and dual diagnosis treatment for these conditions.

The first step toward sobriety is to recognize that there’s a problem and get help. If you or a loved one has a heroin addiction, help is available. Call Recovery in Motion today at (866) 418-1070 to begin your journey toward a better life.

ByNick Jones

Accidental Addiction: How Opiate Addiction Can Begin [Infographic]

One of the reasons that accidental addiction are so widespread and problematic in the United States is that the addictions are often accidental. Individuals who may start out simply following their doctor’s orders can wind up abusing opiates, and it may not be through any fault or intent of their own. You need to better understand how accidental opiate addictions can begin in the United States and how you can combat them.

Rising Deaths and Exposure to Fentanyl

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is almost 50-100 times more potent than morphine, and 30-50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl is prescribed to patients who suffer from chronic-pain or pain related to end-of-life circumstances where their condition is terminal. When misused, this drug is incredibly deadly, even in very tiny doses. Its purest form is a grainy white powder, with crystals similar to that of table salt. Because many street drugs are “laced” with other components, illicit drug makers are starting to use fentanyl in their heroin manufacturing. This is causing people to accidentally overdose, not knowing that their street heroin contains fatal amounts of fentanyl.

Opiates are Prescribed by the Millions in the United States

In a given year in the United States, as many as 207 million prescriptions may be written for opiate painkillers. This is up substantially from 1991, when there were only 76 million annual prescriptions. Many of these prescriptions are legitimate, and are designed to help patients deal with pain after an accident or a surgery. Unfortunately, some of these prescriptions are illicit, and designed to help individuals sell opiate painkillers on the black market.

Opiate Creates the Need for Higher Doses

Even if patients begin taking opiate prescription medications legitimately and for medical reasons, they may begin to notice that their tolerance for the medicine increases over time. The typical amount for an adult to take when first beginning narcotic treatment for pain is 10 mg every 12 hours, or a total of 20 mg per day. While that may be sufficient to manage pain initially, some patients begin to need a higher dose due to an increased tolerance, which only strengthens a forming addiction and causes the body to rely on the opiates for pain relief and daily function.

Prolonged Opiate Medication Consumption Creates Accidental Addiction

Addiction is a medical illness, not something that people choose to pursue or a side effect of poor willpower. It’s recommended by many pharmacological experts that patients only take narcotic painkillers like opiate medications for less than 14 days, and some even argue that it should be limited to 3–7 days. Addiction can form in as little as 14 days, and taking prescription opiates even longer only makes the addiction stronger.

Alternative Opiate Sources are Sought Out

Whether cost or prescription access is a prohibitive factor, individuals who have learned to rely on opiate painkillers may begin to look for alternative sources to fuel their accidental addiction and prevent any pain from returning. Heroin can be one-tenth the price of medical opiates on the street, making them an appealing alternative for high-dose users.

Many Heroin Users Began With Prescription Drugs

Some studies show that more than half of current heroin users in the United States began by using prescription drugs. In fact, many people go back and forth, depending on availability. More options means more availability and fewer forced withdrawals.
Even if the formation of an addiction was accidental, it’s important to seek help. Recovery in Motion holds the key to helping you achieve lasting sobriety. Call (866) 418-1070 to break free from an opiate addiction and take back the life you deserve.

ByNick Jones

How Residential Drug Treatment Programs Give Back to the Community

According to the University of Pennsylvania Health System, addictions cost corporations $93 billion a year in lower productivity and insurance premiums. Beyond the economic costs, alcohol and drugs play a role in 52% of car accident fatalities. While the cost of residential drug treatment programs is paid by families and addicted individuals, the cost of the addiction is spread out over everyone in society. From violent crime rates to educational problems, addictions affect every part of our lives.

How Residential Drug Treatment Programs Benefit Society

Currently, one out of four high school students has a problem with drinking. A third of students have tried an illegal drug. Alcohol and drugs negatively impact school systems and lead to problems in the workplace later on. In addition, 10 to 23% of workers use drugs on the job. As a result, these employees and their co-workers have a higher risk of accidents and injuries while they are at work. While only the addicted individual suffers the addiction, all of society feels the repercussions. Once these people enter recovery, they can return to being productive members of society again.

Residential Drug Treatment Programs and Family Bonding

For the families affected by drug addiction, treatment programs are one of the first ways that they start to heal. Over the course of an addiction, addicted individuals may have stolen items or money for drugs. Often, these people prioritize their addiction over everything in their life. As a result, family relationships and trust are left behind. Once patients end their addiction, they are able to rebuild these connections in family therapy. Family members are also able to recognize the ways they enabled the drug use and welcome their loved one back into the family.

Children are particularly harmed by drug abuse. Studies show that children of substance abusers are more likely to be abused or neglected than their peers. They may lack proper immunizations, medical care or dental care. Even basic necessities like shelter, food and water may be forgotten in the rush to get another fix.

Preventing Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 123,235 adults with AIDS in 2003 developed the disease after injecting drugs. While this disease obviously impacts the individual, it can also be spread to loved ones and other drug users. By getting clean, individuals are preventing blood-borne illnesses that could spread to the people that they care about.

Many of the problems associated with drug abuse are reduced or eliminated once the addicted individual becomes sober. While getting clean is rarely easy, residential treatment centers can help. If you or a loved one needs help with an addiction, contact Recovery in Motion at (866) 418-1070 today.

ByNick Jones

Blog
Detox

The First Step in Rehab for Heroin is the Willingness to Change Your Life

When you’re ready to get help through rehab for heroin, it’s time to consider what you want from your future and how the right rehab can help you get on track for the life you deserve.

Things to Consider When Seeking Rehab for Heroin

Your life will be very, very different after rehab for heroin. The decision to go into treatment for drug abuse or addiction means there will be changes of all kinds to virtually every area of your everyday existence. However, this is a very hopeful and exciting time that can be made much easier by knowing what it takes to succeed in and beyond rehab for heroin.

Consider the following:

Entering treatment is your decision to make for a chance of a better future, and to avoid becoming just another overdose statistic
Heroin rehab will mean you need to change many areas of your life and let go of self-destructive ways
Rehab isn’t a sure thing, active participation and work is required for lasting recovery
Recovery is never easy but is worth the trouble
Quitting rehab when it gets difficult is something you will need to fight against in order to gain a better future
Honesty and work are necessary to gain recovery
No longer will taking the easy road work for a positive life
There will be hard moments when you must face your inner demons
Rehab is a commitment to ending drug use once and for all
You will meet many people like yourself in rehab and many from other walks of life because addiction is an equal-opportunity problem

Prepare for Rehab for Heroin

When you’re ready to enter heroin treatment, you need to prepare yourself for what is ahead. To get ready, consider the following suggestions:

Research potential facilities to ensure a good fit for your personal needs
Rehab takes time, so be ready for a long-term stay if needed
Rehab needs to feel like home away from home for your personal comfort and focus
You may need someone to help with home and work responsibilities while you are away
Prepare yourself to “just go with it” and do what the program wants you to, in order to achieve success

Asking for help is difficult and sticking to a program can be even more difficult. However, getting into rehab is only the first step in recovery from heroin. You will need help from others along the way and to maintain an attitude of willingness to do what it takes to stop your addiction once and for all.

Recovery In Motion for Long-Term Recovery from Heroin

Recovery In Motion in Tucson, Arizona provides the evidence-based therapies you need to overcome heroin for good. An affordable, comfortable rehab environment, Recovery In Motion provides long-term patients with apartment-style residences with peers in recovery so focus can be entirely upon gaining the sobriety you need for a brighter future.

Stop heroin addiction from running your life. Call Recovery In Motion now at (866) 418-1070 to take the next step for rehab from heroin, the one that will count most.

ByNick Jones

Are There Ways, Other than Medication, to Ease Opiate Withdrawal?

Over half of all drug overdose fatalities in the United States, today are the consequence of opiates. To break an addiction, withdrawal from opiates may be integral, but the cycle is also not always simple. To facilitate the withdrawal of opiates, the best option has always been to get help from medical professionals ‘ in an addiction treatment facility. Other than medication, there are some methods that can help to ease opiate withdrawal.

Hot Showers or Epsom Salt Baths Can Ease Opiate Withdrawal

One of the most helpful ways to ease the discomfort of an opium withdrawal is to take a hot bath or shower. The heat itself can be an excellent way to target muscle aches, as well as relieve the pain of restless leg syndrome.

Although showers may be more convenient, a hot bath can be an even better way to reduce some of the pain of opiate withdrawal. By floating even part of the body in the tub, individuals can relieve their muscles of stress. Adding Epsom salt to the water also aids in adding salt to the body, which it may be severely lacking thanks to dehydration.

Electrolyte Beverages

Just some of the most common side effects of an opiate withdrawal are nausea, extreme sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately, all of these symptoms add up to make individuals in withdrawal very dehydrated. Not only is hydration necessary, in the form of water or other fluids, but salts and electrolytes are vital to prevent dizziness and more nausea.

Electrolyte beverages that contain salt, magnesium and potassium may be very helpful in the fight to ease opiate withdrawal. They help restore the balance of electrolytes in the body while simultaneously aiding with re-hydration. Sports beverages are one excellent option, as are re-hydration shakes or even drinks for children such as Pedialyte.

Tasty Foods That Don’t Require Preparation

In an ideal world, those struggling to withdraw from opiates would eat healthy, nutritious meals three times a day. In reality, however, many individuals don’t have the energy or the desire to prepare healthy foods.

Rather than not eating at all, or feeling guilty about not wanting to prepare nutritious meals, prepare for withdrawal by purchasing enjoyable foods. Individuals who buy their favorite snacks or comfort foods will likely end up eating more, which can help through the withdrawal phase.

A Comfortable and Temperature-Controlled Environment

Without medication to ease opiate withdrawal, there will almost certainly be a level of pain and discomfort. However, a comfortable space can go a long way in easing that pain. A space that is temperature controlled and free from loud noises may be a help in withdrawal.

Opiate withdrawal is very challenging, but medical supervision means patients can get the medication and resources they need to minimize pain and even speed up the process. After withdrawal, rehab is vital. Recovery in Motion, located in Tucson, Arizona, is an affordable, reputable place to beat opiate addiction for good. Call (866) 418-1070 for details on how you can start fighting back against addiction.